Amy, what's happening? Why are you so upset? Oh, the maid is still ill. Sorry to hear that. There's speak of "consumption"? You want to know what that means? Like, RIGHT NOW? Right this second?

​Okay, but I need you to calm down first.

Consumption is another word for tuberculosis, and this disease is the leading cause of death in Canada in the mid-1800s which, as you know, is when you currently exist. In the 19th century it is thought to be a hereditary disease, rather than the contagious one it actually is.

The good news is that in Canada and the United States in the 21st century, tuberculosis is very rare, indeed.

In 1895 Wilhem Roentgen, the Nobel Prize winner in 1901 for physics, will discover the X-ray. This will aid tremendously in the diagnosis of tuberculosis.

In the 1930s and early 1940s, large groups of people will have chest X-rays in Canada, looking for hidden cases among the general population. But as the incidence of tuberculosis falls, so will this need.

The first Canadian sanatorium (medical facility) for infected patients will open in Gravenhurst, Ontario in 1897, treating them with rest, nutritious foods, fresh air and rehabilitation. By 1909, the first of specialized nurses will visit the homes of those with a history of tuberculosis, and will provide on-going follow-ups, providing care, disposable handkerchiefs and cleaning with disinfectants.
With the success of antibiotic treatment, started in the 1950s, there will be only a few beds anywhere in Canada by the 1960s for tuberculosis patients.

The maid will need a lot of rest until she gets better. Often the symptoms of tuberculosis don't worsen over time, so hopefully this is her situation and she will only improve.
Please keep me informed when you hear how she's doing.